Jazz

Pat Metheny
MoonDial
BMG Modern Recordings 964026842; LP: 964026861 (two discs)

On his earlier solo albums Quiet Nights and What’s It All About Metheny used a baritone guitar, with the middle strings up an octave in a ‘half Nashville’ tuning, to play bass lines, melody lines and magical chords all at the same time. But for this 2023 Dream Box tour he had a new nylon-string baritone by Canadian luthier Linda Manzer (maker of the 42-string Pikasso) and now, with special strings from Magma of Argentina, he could use this tuning with nylon. Showcasing its unique sound here, he revisits Chick Corea’s ‘You’re Everything’, explores the pretty changes of Lennon and McCartney’s ‘Here, There And Everywhere’ and indulgently reharmonises the ‘Londonderry Air’, along with some sonorous originals. SH

Sound Quality: 90%

Cornelia Nilsson
Where Do You Go?
Stunt Records STUC23092; LP: STULP23091

From a drummer who’s recently conquered the Swedish scene, here’s a debut that astutely puts together two contrasting sessions. Four tracks feature Nilsson’s regular trio of 2022 with bassist Daniel Franck and Hungarian tenor saxophonist Gabor Bolla: eloquent on Monk’s ‘Ugly Beauty’ and Ornette Coleman’s ‘The Sphinx’. The other session has Nilsson and Franck joining US pianist Aaron Parks, who starts with a terrific workout on Bud Powell’s ‘John’s Abbey’. And when Nilsson’s drum feature ‘For A Father’ leads into Krzysztof Komeda’s ‘Dirge For Europe’, Parks echoes Bill Evans’ ‘Peace Piece’ but in a minor key and makes it truly moving. Captivating. SH

Sound Quality: 85%

Antonio Faraò
Tributes
Criss Cross Jazz 1420

Though this was recorded in France, Milan-based pianist Faraò sizzles with a hot US rhythm team, bassist John Pattucci and drummer Jeff Ballard. Known for his interpretations of Italian film music, Faraò is also an admirer and able absorber of modern jazz piano and has in the past recorded with Tain Watts and Jack Delohnette. His Tributes here are eight originals, for heroes including Tyner, Hancock, Jarrett and Kirkland. Rounding out this blistering session are Faraò’s takes on Chick Corea’s ‘Matrix’ and, surprisingly, Cole Porter’s ‘I Love You’, but even there the pace hardly slackens. If you love to hear a piano trio in hyperdrive, this is for you. SH

Sound Quality: 80%

Sam Braysher
That’s Him: The Music Of Kurt Weill
SB Records SB01

London-based alto saxophonist Braysher has worked happily in older-style ensembles but is a master of post-war idioms too. He won’t be consigned to the usual hard-bop pigeonhole, playing long, logically-unfolding lines with an engaging sound that perhaps owes more to the cool school. Here he explores some of Weill’s less familiar tunes, leading an admirably swinging quartet with Hungarian pianist Gayer, Italian bassist de Lecce and leading UK drummer Steve Brown. All shine too on the lone original, ‘Ships Adrift’, a breathless, boppish jump tune derived from ‘My Ship’. And three vibrant vocals from the amazing Sarah Dowling make this a winner. SH

Sound Quality: 85%